Defense Secretary James Mattis and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie have said the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments will release an integrated electronic health record system in an aim to share information between the two agencies.

Both department heads said in a statement published September 26 the agencies will work to store the medical information of U.S. warfighters, and their families, during and after military service.

The department heads said they plan to come up with a more streamlined and comprehensive EHR system that provides for unified decision-making and oversight functions; harmonized operations, data management and technology tools; and a single implementation schedule.

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have jointly established a board to study the issue that resulted in a three percent availability loss of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 17. The infrared detectors of the weather satellite’s Advanced Baseline Imager instrument did not maintain required operational temperatures under certain conditions during a postlaunch test, NASA said Tuesday.

David McGowan, chief engineer at the space agency’s Langley Research Center, will chair the board. Board members include lead NASA researchers Joel Lachter, Rich Slywczak, Hank Rotter and Julie Grantier.

GOES-17 is part of a series of satellites that work to provide weather forecasts and warnings. The satellite is slated to be operationally renamed the GOES West later this year.

The Department of Energy is investing a maximum of $28M in research, development and demonstration efforts aiming to support U.S. energy infrastructure cybersecurity.

The DOE said Monday its Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response will partner with industry to develop cyber threat mitigation, detection and prevention technologies.

“These awards will spur the next level of innovation needed to advance cyber resilience, ensuring that the nation’s critical energy infrastructure can withstand potential cyber attacks while also still keeping the lights on,” said Rick Perry, secretary of energy.

The 11 funded projects all support the department’s Multiyear Plan for Energy Sector Cybersecurity that aims to encourage partnerships across government and industry.

The full list of the funded projects can be accessed here.

United Technologies Research Center and GE Global Research are among the awardees under the funding.

The Defense Department has decided to withdraw its proposed rule to regulate payments to contractors based on performance, Defense News reported Monday.

“Recently, proposed amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) were prematurely released, absent full coordination,” Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan wrote in a statement obtained by the publication.

Shanahan said DoD will work with industry to draft an updated rule to enforce section 831 of the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

Ellen Lord, defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said in a recent interview that the Pentagon plans to use performance payments as an incentive to contractors that meet the requirements under the proposed rule.

The report said the Professional Services Council, Aerospace Industries Association and the National Defense Industrial Association raised objections to the proposed policy.

DoD’s move came a week after Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) wrote a letter to Shanahan expressing concerns over the proposed rule.

The Air Force has confirmed the appointment of Eileen Vidrine, a 10-year U.S. Army veteran, as chief data officer, Federal News Radio reported Monday.

The service formally announced Vidrine’s appointment four months after she took the position.

Vidrine succeeds Maj. Gen. Kimberly Crider, who now serves as mobilization assistant to the undersecretary of the Air Force.

Prior to joining the Air Force, Vidrine worked as a temporary detail to the White House for nine months. She also held various leadership positions in the Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Defense Intelligence Agency and Carney Interactive.

In addition, Virdine previously taught information systems at Northern Virginia Community College from 1999 to 2002.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has recommended that corporations partner with the federal government to protect their data and computer systems from cyberattacks, NextGov reported Monday.

During an address at a National Association of Corporate Directors event, Wray said if companies discover a breach in their cyber platforms or evidence of online file tampering, they should inform federal agencies.

Wray added that corporate boards should work to see that information security is taken seriously and limit the amount of people who can access their firms’ sensitive data.

He also advised that American companies should avoid mergers, joint ventures and other transactions with Chinese firms to hinder the latter from obtaining intellectual property and trade secrets.

 

The Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate has selected a consortium led by Texas A&M University to help run a center of excellence for cross-border threat screening and supply chain defense.

The DHS said Monday the directorate will award up to $3.85M to fund the new CoE’s first year of operation as part of a 10-year grant program.

William Bryan, DHS acting undersecretary for science and technology, said the center will research and develop systems to identify biological threats that could affect the department’s ability to safeguard the infrastructure supply chain, as well as bring harm to people, agriculture and the economy.

The CoE will partner with DHS-aligned agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conceptualize and deliver technologies that contribute to safe trade and travel in the nation.

The S&T CoE will also be tasked with conducting personnel training on biological threat preparedness and response.